diff --git a/lib/platform/gitlab/__snapshots__/index.spec.ts.snap b/lib/platform/gitlab/__snapshots__/index.spec.ts.snap
index e265a6c591caf6..5f4f2125c497c3 100644
--- a/lib/platform/gitlab/__snapshots__/index.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/lib/platform/gitlab/__snapshots__/index.spec.ts.snap
@@ -161,17 +161,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
 ]
 `;
 
@@ -303,17 +292,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
 ]
 `;
 
@@ -330,17 +308,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -409,17 +376,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -461,17 +417,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -513,17 +458,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -551,17 +485,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -589,17 +512,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -638,17 +550,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -922,17 +823,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -959,6 +849,7 @@ Object {
   "deletions": 1,
   "displayNumber": "Merge Request #91",
   "iid": 91,
+  "isConflicted": true,
   "isModified": true,
   "isStale": false,
   "number": 91,
@@ -982,17 +873,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -1053,17 +933,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -1091,17 +960,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -1129,17 +987,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -1167,17 +1014,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -1205,17 +1041,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -1243,17 +1068,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -1281,17 +1095,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
 ]
 `;
 
@@ -1308,17 +1111,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -1346,17 +1138,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -1384,17 +1165,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -1540,17 +1310,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "headers": Object {
       "accept": "application/json",
@@ -1613,17 +1372,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo%2Fproject",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
 ]
 `;
 
@@ -1640,17 +1388,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo%2Fproject",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
 ]
 `;
 
@@ -1768,17 +1505,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo%2Fproject",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
 ]
 `;
 
@@ -1795,17 +1521,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo%2Fproject",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
 ]
 `;
 
@@ -1980,17 +1695,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
 ]
 `;
 
@@ -2007,17 +1711,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
 ]
 `;
 
@@ -2034,17 +1727,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "body": "{\\"state\\":\\"success\\",\\"description\\":\\"some-description\\",\\"context\\":\\"some-context\\",\\"target_url\\":\\"some-url\\"}",
     "headers": Object {
@@ -2086,17 +1768,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "body": "{\\"state\\":\\"failed\\",\\"description\\":\\"some-description\\",\\"context\\":\\"some-context\\",\\"target_url\\":\\"some-url\\"}",
     "headers": Object {
@@ -2138,17 +1809,6 @@ Array [
     "method": "GET",
     "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo",
   },
-  Object {
-    "headers": Object {
-      "accept": "application/json",
-      "accept-encoding": "gzip, deflate",
-      "host": "gitlab.com",
-      "private-token": "abc123",
-      "user-agent": "https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate",
-    },
-    "method": "GET",
-    "url": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/user",
-  },
   Object {
     "body": "{\\"state\\":\\"pending\\",\\"description\\":\\"some-description\\",\\"context\\":\\"some-context\\",\\"target_url\\":\\"some-url\\"}",
     "headers": Object {
diff --git a/lib/platform/gitlab/index.spec.ts b/lib/platform/gitlab/index.spec.ts
index 4ebdce81a2170a..0ee02ac057c89a 100644
--- a/lib/platform/gitlab/index.spec.ts
+++ b/lib/platform/gitlab/index.spec.ts
@@ -137,19 +137,13 @@ describe('platform/gitlab', () => {
   ): Promise<nock.Scope> {
     const repo = repoParams.repository;
     const justRepo = repo.split('/').slice(0, 2).join('/');
-    scope
-      .get(`/api/v4/projects/${encodeURIComponent(repo)}`)
-      .reply(
-        200,
-        repoResp || {
-          default_branch: 'master',
-          http_url_to_repo: `https://gitlab.com/${justRepo}.git`,
-        }
-      )
-      .get('/api/v4/user')
-      .reply(200, {
-        email: 'a@b.com',
-      });
+    scope.get(`/api/v4/projects/${encodeURIComponent(repo)}`).reply(
+      200,
+      repoResp || {
+        default_branch: 'master',
+        http_url_to_repo: `https://gitlab.com/${justRepo}.git`,
+      }
+    );
     await gitlab.initRepo(repoParams);
     return scope;
   }
@@ -182,11 +176,7 @@ describe('platform/gitlab', () => {
       httpMock
         .scope(gitlabApiHost)
         .get('/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo%2Fproject')
-        .reply(200, [])
-        .get('/api/v4/user')
-        .reply(200, {
-          email: 'a@b.com',
-        });
+        .reply(200, []);
       await gitlab.initRepo({
         repository: 'some/repo/project',
         localDir: '',
@@ -295,8 +285,6 @@ describe('platform/gitlab', () => {
     it('should fall back if http_url_to_repo is empty', async () => {
       httpMock
         .scope(gitlabApiHost)
-        .get('/api/v4/user')
-        .reply(200, {})
         .get('/api/v4/projects/some%2Frepo%2Fproject')
         .reply(200, {
           default_branch: 'master',
@@ -353,10 +341,6 @@ describe('platform/gitlab', () => {
         .reply(200, {
           default_branch: 'master',
           http_url_to_repo: `https://gitlab.com/some/repo.git`,
-        })
-        .get('/api/v4/user')
-        .reply(200, {
-          email: 'a@b.com',
         });
       await gitlab.initRepo({
         repository: 'some/repo',
@@ -373,10 +357,6 @@ describe('platform/gitlab', () => {
         .reply(200, {
           default_branch: 'master',
           http_url_to_repo: `https://gitlab.com/some/repo.git`,
-        })
-        .get('/api/v4/user')
-        .reply(200, {
-          email: 'a@b.com',
         });
       await gitlab.initRepo({
         repository: 'some/repo',
@@ -1075,6 +1055,15 @@ describe('platform/gitlab', () => {
     });
   });
   describe('getPr(prNo)', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      global.gitAuthor = {
+        name: 'abccom',
+        email: 'a@b.com',
+      };
+    });
+    afterEach(() => {
+      delete global.gitAuthor;
+    });
     it('returns the PR', async () => {
       httpMock
         .scope(gitlabApiHost)
@@ -1092,7 +1081,7 @@ describe('platform/gitlab', () => {
           target_branch: 'master',
         })
         .get('/api/v4/projects/undefined/repository/branches/some-branch')
-        .reply(200, { commit: {} });
+        .reply(200, { commit: { author_email: global.gitAuthor.email } });
       const pr = await gitlab.getPr(12345);
       expect(pr).toMatchSnapshot();
       expect(httpMock.getTrace()).toMatchSnapshot();
diff --git a/lib/platform/gitlab/index.ts b/lib/platform/gitlab/index.ts
index ea8c26f2809d07..5f81f17376fc6c 100644
--- a/lib/platform/gitlab/index.ts
+++ b/lib/platform/gitlab/index.ts
@@ -204,11 +204,6 @@ export async function initRepo({
     config.baseBranch = config.defaultBranch;
     config.mergeMethod = res.body.merge_method || 'merge';
     logger.debug(`${repository} default branch = ${config.baseBranch}`);
-    // Discover our user email
-    config.email = (
-      await gitlabApi.getJson<{ email: string }>(`user`)
-    ).body.email;
-    logger.debug('Bot email=' + config.email);
     delete config.prList;
     logger.debug('Enabling Git FS');
     const opts = hostRules.find({
@@ -481,12 +476,11 @@ export async function getPr(iid: number): Promise<Pr> {
     ).body;
     const branchCommitEmail =
       branch && branch.commit ? branch.commit.author_email : null;
-    // istanbul ignore if
-    if (branchCommitEmail === config.email) {
+    if (branchCommitEmail === global.gitAuthor.email) {
       pr.isModified = false;
     } else {
       logger.debug(
-        { branchCommitEmail, configEmail: config.email, iid: pr.iid },
+        { branchCommitEmail, configEmail: global.gitAuthor.email, iid: pr.iid },
         'Last committer to branch does not match bot email, so PR cannot be rebased.'
       );
       pr.isModified = true;